INTRODUCTION

Learn to select and sharpen tools and turn bowl and spindles, or improve your turning skills. Since 1976 I have helped over 2200 students to do this.

THE GOALS

1. Learn to select (see below) and sharpen gouges, skews, and scrapers. Practice  sharpening each type of tool.
2. Watch me demonstrate a tool. Then you will use it,  practicing to develop skill and understanding.
3. Repeat for each of the tools.
4. During this practice, you will turn spindles and/or bowls, including practice turning green and dry wood.
5. Your confidence in your turning skills and in the safety of turning is the final goal

IT'S AMAZING

Since you do not have five years to apprentice with a professional turner, I take a different approach that has worked over and over.with my students.

In two days you will learn the basics of turning, and then can spend the next five years improving your skills using the "Zimmerman Turning Letters" as a reference source and a reminder of what you did in class.

At the beginning it is not easy. Occasionally a student becomes really frustrated. But that is no surprise, for if turning were easy, you would not need to come for instruction and help. Some thank me for my patience as they struggle, but tis I that know they are the patient ones. Now and then thinking "Why can't I get this?" is not the most ego-boosting thought.

But by 2 o'clock the second day, I can say, in most cases, "You have the basic idea. The only problem you have now  is recognizing that your tool is dull, and it it the dull tool that is not working right, not you."

You will be as amazed as I am.

Whether you come to me, or I go to you, there'll be you, me, a lathe, tools, wood, and two days of personal attention to your turning needs. And most of the time you'll be turning--NOT WATCHING.

For more detailed information, click on the appropriate "button."

ADDENDUM: NEW TOOL SELECTION

If you look at turning tool catalogs, the number of tools displayed is extraordinary, but I want you to know that you need no more than 6 tools to turn bowls and spindles. All the others will be similar tools in different sizes. Pictured here are the six.

From left to rigtht: 3/8" (1/2" Chinese) LONG & STRONG BOWL TURNING GOUGE. Next, 3/4" ROUND NOSE SCRAPER. (12" OK) Those will carry you a long way in your beginning bowl turning, but in class you will also learn to use the 1/4" bowl gouge which I think wonderful for finishing.

Four spindle turning tools: 3/4" ROUGHING OUT GOUGE; 1/2' SKEW; 3/8" FINGERNAIL GOUGE; 1/8" or 1/4" PARTING TOOL

I have never seen a set of tools that I liked, most commonly because the bowl gouge that was included was shorter than a desirable 22" length or longer. And sometimes tools are just put in to fill the eight spaces. (Why would a tool maker sell only seven tools, when he could sell eight?

These are just thoughts to consider when buying tools. And remember that you'll have a chance to use a huge variety in class so that when you do buy you will make a decision based on experience rather than guessing.

© 2011 by Russ Zimmerman